News Archives - Page 60 of 77

Suspected Boko Haram Ambushes NSCDC Team, Seven Officials Missing

November 20, 2024 by admin

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have ambushed a monitoring team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The attack occurred on Monday, in the Farin-Kasa area of Chukun Local Government Area, Kaduna State when the operatives were inspecting the National Grid installation in Shiroro, Niger State. Disclosing this in a statement, NSCDC spokesperson, DCC Afolabi Babawale, said the NSCDC team, comprised of nine officers and 71 other ranks, was mobilised in response to recent attacks on power lines, a development that had led to a blackout due in northern part of Nigeria. “As they patrolled vulnerable areas, they encountered stranded expatriates near Dagwachi Village and allowed them to join the convoy for safety. Unbeknownst to the team, over 200 armed Boko Haram militants had laid a deadly ambush from a hilltop, ready to unleash a torrent of gunfire on the unsuspecting convoy,” he said. “Determined and resourceful, the NSCDC operatives fought back valiantly, managing to neutralise over 50 insurgents during the exchange. However, the chaos left seven officers unaccounted for, prompting an urgent search in the bush for their whereabouts. Those who sustained injuries are currently receiving medical treatment.” On his part, NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, condemned the attack, labelling it as a cowardly act against personnel committed to the nation’s defence. He praised the courage and determination of the operatives, emphasising the Corps’ unwavering commitment to safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure amid rising security challenges. Channels

Tinubu, Lula, Jinping, Ramaphosa,Others Unite To Combat Hunger.

November 20, 2024 by admin

World leaders have embraced Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative spearheaded by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the 19th Group of 20 (G20) Summit, which rounded off last night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s commercial capital. “This bold and visionary step underscores Brazil’s leadership in addressing one of the most urgent and persistent challenges facing our world today”, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said while addressing leaders at the meeting. Among the leaders are: United States (U.S.) President Joe Biden; Chinese President Xi Jinping; United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Keir Stammer; French President Emmanuel Macron; Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and host President da Silva. Eighty-two countries are members of the alliance against hunger. After last-minute negotiations, Javier Milei’s Argentina became the 82nd country to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, Brazil’s initiative launched during the two-day summit. With Buenos Aires’ decision, all G20 countries are now members. The African Union, the European Union, nine financial institutions, 24 international organisations, and 31 philanthropic and non-governmental entities, totalling 148 are founding members. President Tinubu said: “The creation of this Alliance marks a significant milestone in our global efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, and it also sends a powerful message of solidarity to vulnerable populations around the globe. “By fostering collaboration between governments, international organisations, and civil society, this initiative offers a comprehensive approach, not only to addressing immediate needs, but also tackling the structural causes of hunger and poverty.” President Tinubu compared the global initiative to one of the eight priority areas he outlined during his inauguration 18 months ago, expressing Nigeria’s eagerness to adopt the international best practices to advance its economic development. He said Nigeria’s endorsement of the Global Alliance is a significant step in its efforts to address hunger and poverty by leveraging international cooperation and resources to bolster domestic strategies. He added that by supporting the initiative, Nigeria had also demonstrated a solid commitment to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1, which focuses on eradicating poverty, and SDG 2, which aims to achieve zero hunger. President Tinubu added: “These goals are at the core of Nigeria’s development agenda, and the Alliance offers a platform to accelerate progress towards them. “By collaborating with international partners, Nigeria aims to leverage best practices, innovative solutions, and financial support to enhance its efforts to combat poverty and hunger. “The endorsement reinforces Nigeria’s role as a key player in global efforts to promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life for all its citizens.” President Tinubu called for the reform of the United Nations Security Council to ensure its continued relevance in global interventions. He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness and capability to represent Africa within the global elite assembly. The President urged the G20 to champion the noble ideal, having admitted the African Union (AU) as a group member. President Tinubu said: “The Security Council should expand its permanent and non-permanent member categories to reflect the world’s diversity and plurality. Africa deserves priority in this and two permanent seats should be allocated to it with equal rights and responsibilities. Nigeria stands ready and willing to serve as a representative of Africa in this capacity.” S’Africa backs Brazil’s fight against poverty President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday said South Africa fully supported the Brazilian Presidency’s focus on social inclusion and the fight against hunger. Speaking at the working session on social inclusion and the fight against higher and poverty, Ramaphosa said it was only through an integrated and comprehensive system of social support that the G20 will be able to assist the most vulnerable in society. According to the World Bank, nearly 700 million people are currently living in extreme poverty and the Sub-Saharan Africa region accounts for 67 per cent of these people. Ramaphosa said that at the same time, countries with developing economies were faced with declining growth prospects, declining investments and rising debt. He said these challenges had the potential to derail development gains and progress made toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. “We must, therefore, urgently redouble efforts to eliminate poverty and hunger. We must advance gender equality. And we must overcome the planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation and pollution,” Ramaphosa said. Guterres urges reforms United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for reform of global governance institutions. He said: “We face a global governance deficit and a global trust deficit. Poverty, inequalities, and the climate crisis are getting worse, and peace is getting further out of reach. “We need global solutions rooted in the UN Charter. But our institutions are not keeping up. That was the reason for the Pact for the Future agreed in the UN Summit of the Future to strengthen multilateralism and global governance. “Starting with the Security Council, which is steadily losing its effectiveness and legitimacy. As wars grind on, innocent people are paying a terrible price, and the Security Council is unable to stop them. Security Council reform must be pursued with determination and not become a mirage. “Everywhere around the world, peace requires actions grounded in the values of the UN Charter, the rule of law, UN resolutions and the principles of sovereignty, political independence and the territorial integrity of States.” G20 anticipates change in U.S. foreign policy The G20 leaders discussed a likely shifting global order, trying to shore up multilateral consensus before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returns to power in January. Their discussions of trade, climate change and international security anticipated the sharp U.S. policy changes that Trump vows upon taking office, from tariffs to the promise of a negotiated solution to the war in Ukraine. The Nation

Cholera Outbreak Claims 25 Lives In Sokoto,15 Hospitalized

November 19, 2024 by admin

No fewer than 25 persons have been confirmed dead as a result of a Gastroenteritis outbreak, otherwise known as Cholera, in three Local Government Areas of the state out of a total of 1,160 cases recorded in the state. The state Commissioner of Health, Asabe Balarabe, disclosed this on Monday while speaking to newsmen. The commissioner further explained that the state is treating 15 other victims of the outbreak on active cases from Sokoto North, Silame and Kware local government areas. The 15 active cases, according to the commissioner, were diagnosed through laboratory tests based on culture and sensitivity and confirmed to be active cases of the cholera outbreak. The commissioner further said, ” Out of 1,160 people that have been affected by the outbreak, 25 of the victims have already succumbed to the disease. “The stated rescue teams are collaborating with the state government to manage and forestall further spread of the dreaded disease.” “The state government, in its response to the outbreak, directed the immediate purchase and distribution of drugs free of charge to 18 local government areas to curtail the disease’s continued spread. The commissioner appreciated the turnout of women, especially pregnant women, seeking medical consultations and pregnancy tests at various health institutions in the state. She highlighted challenges facing the health sector, including dilapidated infrastructure and inadequate resources, which have plagued the sector backwards for the past eight years. She expressed hope that Governor Ahmad Aliyu, in his magnanimity, see to the revitalization of the health sector in the state. “Patients often face numerous problems in public health institutions, such as atrocities, loud disturbances, lack of water, and power outages.” She commended the governor for recruiting 864 nurses and midwives to address the issue of a shortage of manpower in state public health facilities. Balarabe, however, stated that plans are in the pipeline to recruit more supporting staff to replace the dead and those who retired without replacement. Our Correspondent in the state gathered that victims of the escalating cases of Cholera/Diarrhea outbreak were in Bazza and Gidadawa Communities in Sokoto Metropolis, where some died while others are still receiving medication at Primary Health Centres in Bazza and Kofar Rini clinics; all in Waziri B Ward of Sokoto North LGA. Punch

PDP Criticizes Tinubu For Conferring GCON Title On Indian PM

November 18, 2024 by admin

The Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday faulted President Bola Tinubu for decorating the visiting Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, with the Nigerian second highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, Timothy Osadolor, described the President’s action as misplaced priority. But the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Nze Chidi Duru, kicked, arguing that the President didn’t do anything unprecedented. The PDP’s criticism comes a few hours after Tinubu conferred Modi with the highest honour in the land during the Nigeria/India Bilateral meeting held at the Presidential, Abuja. On his part, Modi commiserated with Nigeria over the recent floods that ravaged several cities across the country, including Maiduguri, Borno State. The Indian Prime Minister promised to support Nigeria with 20 tonnes of relief materials. ”We had a very productive discussion with President Tinubu. We talked about adding momentum to our strategic partnership. There is immense scope for ties to flourish even further in sectors like defence, energy, technology, trade, health, education and more,” Modi said. However, the PDP expressed disappointment in Tinubu, wondering why he chose to gift the second highest national honour in the land on the basis of mere friendship. The member of PDP National Working Committee emphasised that though the President has the right and prerogative to confer a national honour on anybody, there must be criteria to show why they deserve it. “It is not something you dish out for the sake of friendship and all of that. I don’t know what the Indian Prime Minister has done to have warranted such an honour. But this is the second highest honour in the land. It is a misplacement of priorities. “I would have thought that the President should have asked the Indian Prime Minister how the Indian economy has been able to move away from being the poverty capital of the world to being one of the fastest growing economies in the world now. The biggest tech moguls across the globe at the moment are all Indians. “Just look at Microsoft, the Silicon Valley in America and startups. They are all being run and set up by Indians. I would have thought that Tinubu, in a bid to shore up the lacuna his cabinet lacks, would have been humble enough to ask the Prime Minister to offer him a clue as to how to help his government and Nigerians. Not dishing out unnecessary awards that the man doesn’t need other than for pictures and commentary,” he said. Continuing, the PDP chieftain took a further swipe at the current administration, saying it wouldn’t stop playing to the gallery with some of its alleged theatrics. Osadolor also wondered if the President took the liberty of asking the visiting PM and his delegation the right questions on investments and how Nigeria can borrow a leaf from the Indians to move the country out of the woods. He said, “Tinubu is not serious. He should leave out frivolities for bigger issues. Now that the Indian Prime Minister has taken it upon himself to visit Africa, yes, we have a significant and sizeable Indian community in Nigeria. But to what end can we maximize and leverage these businesses? “Are we asking the right questions, seeking the right investments and pushing for the right policies? But the distraction from this administration is becoming one too many. I think President Tinubu should wake up from these media gimmicks and focus on the real issues. “Nigerians are hungry and dying. The technologies the Indians are currently deploying globally will help a great deal to solve most of these basic challenges.” But the APC Deputy National Organising Secretary, Duru, raised concerns that the PDP was not playing its role as a responsible opposition. He said, “I think the question to ask is, whether there is a precedent in this. Then the next question is if it is within the confines of the power of Mr President to confer such an award. If it is, is the process approved? Once all these questions are answered in the affirmative, it then becomes the discretion of Mr President to confer such honorary award on whom he pleases. “Having said that, it is also important to underscore the fact that we will need to go beyond the politics of emotions to begin to address the issue. So, the PDP is more than welcome to continue to play the role of opposition, which is admirable. “However, we like to see a situation whereby what they put on the table is, with respect, how we can make Nigeria a lot better and more improved that will address the issues facing us as a country. I am talking about things like how do we put food on the table, create a better environment for business to thrive and create a better level playing field. These are things that should worry any of us than to chase shadow.” Meanwhile, a United States of America-based Nigerian security expert, Dr. Sylvester Okere, on Sunday, said the Indian-Nigerian partnership would secure the people’s assets. Okere, who would be among personalities that would be hosted by the Central Association of Private Security Industry from November 21 to 22, 2024 in India, said the invitation by CAPSI to the 19th Security Leadership Summit 2024 in New Delhi was coming at a time when the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi arrived in Nigeria for a state visit. Okere will speak on ‘Indian-Nigerian Partnership in Securing People and Assets,’ as well as other critical security issues affecting both countries. The PUNCH gathered that CAPSI, the umbrella organisation of the Indian private security industry, has ties with some of the leading global security education organisations like the World Association of Detectives, International Federation of Protection Officers, the US-based Association of Investigation and Security Agencies Regulators and the United Kingdom-based Security Institute for training and placement of trained … Read more

FG Proposes N47.9trn As 2025 Budget

November 15, 2024 by admin

The federal government has proposed N47.9 trillion as the total expenditure in the 2025 budget. Atiku Bagudu, the minister of budget and economic planning, told journalists on Thursday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu. The approval is part of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and Fiscal Strategy Paper for 2025-2027, in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007. The framework, which is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly as required by law, either on Friday or Monday, projects a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 4.6%, an exchange rate of $75 to the Naira, and oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day. Details later….

EFCC Grants Bail To Yahaya Bello’s Co-Defendants In Alleged N110.4 Billion Fraud Case

November 15, 2024 by admin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (SAN) has granted administrative bail to two men – Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu – charged with former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello for allegedly diverting the state’s funds. The EFCC had filed a 16-count charge against Bello and the two other defendants, alleging criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110.4 billion. At the mention of the case yesterday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, lawyer to the EFCC, Jamiu Agoro, said the order of the court, given on October 3 in issuing public summons against Bello, had not lapsed. Agoro confirmed that the EFCC had granted an administrative bail to Oricha and Hudu, the second and third defendants. He added: “In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. “So, we have discussed and agreed to come back on November 27, 2024.” The EFCC’s lawyer said the November 20 date, earlier given by the court, was not convenient for the prosecution. He urged the court to grant an application to issue a hearing notice to be served on Bello, the first defendant who was absent in court, and for the notice to be pasted on his last known address. Oricha’s lawyer, Aliyu Saiki (SAN), confirmed that his client had been granted an administrative bail by the prosecution, saying he was not objecting to the application for an adjournment. Hudu’s lawyer, Z. E. Abass, also confirmed the bail grant to his client and agreed to the prosecution’s request for bail. Ruling, Justice Maryanne Anenih granted the request for an adjournment and ordered the issuance of hearing notice to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant and on a conspicuous place in the court premises. Justice Anenih adjourned till November 27 for hearing the case when Bello is expected to be present in court.

BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for 2025 AFCON

November 14, 2024 by admin

The Super Eagles have secured qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with two matches remaining in the qualifiers. With 10 points in the bag, the Super Eagles are guaranteed a top-two finish, following a 1-0 victory for Libya over Rwanda in Kigali, Group D. Next up, the Super Eagles will face Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in Abidjan tonight before returning home to complete their qualifying campaign against Rwanda on Monday. Rwanda, with five points and Libya, now on four, cannot surpass Nigeria with just one matchday left for both teams. The three-time African champions were runners-up in the last edition held in Côte d’Ivoire. The 35th Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.

Budget 2025: Makinde Presents N678 Billion Proposal To Oyo Assembly

November 13, 2024 by admin

Adeleke Maria The executive governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, has presented a total sum of ₦678.06 billion (N678, 068 767 332.18) to the Oyo state House of Assembly for legislative consideration and approval for 2025 budget. While capital expenditure as contained in the budget takes 51 percent of the total budget, recurrent expenditure stands at 49 percent. Governor Makinde in his address before presentation on Wednesday, November 13, tagged the 2025 budget “Budget of Economic Stabilization”. According to the budget estimate, N343 billion was appropriated for capital expenditure, which represents 50.59 percent of the total budget, while N335 billion naira budgeted for recurrent expenditure represents 49.4 percent of the total budget. Makinde said N152 billion has been appropriated for the infrastructural development of the state, which he noted took the largest percentage of the budget with 22.4 percent. Also, education received N145 billion, which represents 21 percent of the total budget. Health got N59 billion, which represents 9 percent while agriculture got N18 billion, representing 3 percent of the budget. The governor added that the 2025 budget proposal represents 35 percent increase compared to the 2024. •Details Soon.

Report: FG Spent N19bn On Presidential Aircraft In 15 Months

November 12, 2024 by admin

At least N19.43bn was spent on the maintenance and operations of the Presidential Air Fleet from July 2023 to September 2024, The PUNCH learnt. Checks by our correspondent on GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s spending, showed that for 2024, the payouts amounted to N13.55bn, representing 66 per cent of the allocations for the fleet in the 2024 fiscal year. Most disbursements were labelled ‘Forex Transit Funds,’ typically funds allocated for foreign exchange requirements to facilitate international transactions and engagements. In the context of the Presidential Air Fleet, such funds are used to cover expenses related to operations outside the country, including fuel purchases, maintenance or services in foreign currencies. In November of that year, N1.26bn was released to the Presidential Air Fleet naira transit account. The first overhead for 2024 came in March, where N1.27bn were disbursed twice, amounting to N2.54bn. The transit account received N6.35bn in April, N4.97bn in May and N210m in July. August saw the highest frequency of transactions, with N5.60bn released in six separate disbursements. Although these transactions were not clearly labelled, the monies were paid into the Presidential Air Fleet naira transit account, including the N35m transfer made in September. In late April, the transit account received N5.08bn; this came around the same time the President was on a two-nation tour to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. Although Tinubu arrived in the Netherlands in a state-owned Gulfstream AeroSpace 550 Jet, the aircraft could not proceed to Saudi Arabia due to unspecified technical problems. He reportedly continued his journey on a chartered private plane. At the time, the President’s Boeing 737 business jet was undergoing maintenance. It was later replaced with an Airbus A330 purchased for $100m in August through service-wide votes. The nearly 15-year-old plane, an ACJ330-200, VP-CAC (MSN 1053), is “spacious and furnished with state-of-the-art avionics, customised interior and communications system,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said, adding that it “will save Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.” The new Airbus A330 is just one of several aircraft currently on the Presidential Air Fleet, arguably one of Africa’s largest, with around 11 aircraft of various makes and models. Until August, it comprised the 19-year-old B737-700 and a 13-year-old Gulfstream Aerospace G550. The BBJ was acquired during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at $43m but became a money guzzler as it aged. Onanuga, defending the purchase of Airbus A330, argued that the new Airbus 330 aircraft and the costs of maintaining the air fleet were not for the president but in the interest of Nigerians. “It’s not President Tinubu’s plane; it belongs to the people of Nigeria, it is our property…the President did not buy a new jet; what he has is a refurbished jet – it has been used by somebody else before he got it, but it is a much newer model than the one President Buhari used. “The one President Buhari used was bought by President Obasanjo some 20 years ago. There was a time when the President went to Saudi Arabia, and the plane developed some problems. The President had to leave the Netherlands with a chartered jet. “Nigerians should try to prioritise the safety of the President. I’m not sure anybody wishes our president to go and crash in the air. We want his safety so that he can hand it over to whoever wants to take over from him,” Onanuga said. The presidential aide said he discussed with the National Security Adviser, Mr Nuhu Ribadu, on the faulty plane [Boeing 737 jet] and he said the maintenance costs were excessive because of the age of the aircraft, hence the need for another plane. The presidential fixed-wing fleet includes a Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7Xs, a Hawker 4000, and a Challenger 605. Three of the seven fixed-wings are reportedly unserviceable. Meanwhile, the rotor-wing fleet includes two Agusta 139s and two Agusta 101s, all operated by the Nigerian Air Force but supervised by the Office of the National Security Adviser. Former President Buhari promised to reduce the number of aircraft in the PAF to the absolute necessary. In April 2023, three jets were put up for sale, but there were no specifics on which. However, efforts to sell one of the Dassault Falcon 7x and the Hawker 4000 in October 2016 stalled when a potential buyer reduced their initial offer from $24m to $11m. Since 2017, budgetary allocations for the fleet have shown a growing trend, with one exception in 2020. The allocation for the fleet increased from N4.37bn in 2017 to N20.52bn in 2024, showing a 370 per cent rise in running costs. In 2018, the fleet’s budget rose significantly by 66.13 per cent to N7.26bn, driven by a substantial increase in capital project allocations while maintaining similar levels for recurrent costs. This upward trajectory continued into 2019, slightly increasing the total allocation to N7.30bn. The exception came in 2020, when the budget dropped by nearly seven per cent to N6.79bn, primarily due to decreased overhead costs, a reflection of the global economic impacts of lockdowns and disruptions in operations. By 2021, however, the budget surged dramatically to N12.55bn—a record increase of 84.83 per cent from the previous year. In 2022, maintenance expenses for each aircraft ranged from $1.5m to $4.5m annually. The 2022, 2023 and 2024 appropriation acts earmarked N12.48bn, N13.07bn and N20.52bn respectively. On his way to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa, a foreign object damaged the cockpit windscreen of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s GulfStream aircraft during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York. According to Lee Aerospace, manufacturers of the Gulfstream, jet windshields consist of thick multilayered structures of varying layers of glass and transparent acrylic built to withstand collision with a 2kg object. However, damage to the windshield must have affected its inner layers. While specific prices for replacement can vary based on supplier, labour rates and regional costs, estimates … Read more

IPMAN, Dangote Reach Agreement On Direct Petrol Supply Deal.

November 11, 2024 by admin

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has secured an agreement with Dangote Refinery to lift products directly. IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Garima, announced this at an ongoing press briefing on Monday in Abuja, following a meeting of the National Working Committee of the Association. He said the partnership would ensure a steady, affordable supply of PMS products nationwide. “After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, we are pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets.” Garima urged IPMAN members to support Dangote Refinery, citing the benefits of backward integration and its positive impact on Nigeria’s foreign exchange market. “IPMAN members should rely on Dangote Refinery and Nigerian refineries for white products, creating more job opportunities and supporting President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.” The latest development concludes several months of negotiations between both parties and is expected to increase efficiency, affordability, and economic growth. The Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa and Europe, has already commenced the production of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, with plans to supply products to over 30,000 IPMAN members and 150,000 retail outlets nationwide. This move is expected to eliminate middlemen, reduce costs, and ensure a steady supply. More details soon…